Guardiola is leaving Manchester City but will not be saying goodbye to the City Football Group (CFG). As he steps down as manager at the Etihad, the Catalan has agreed to be a global ambassador for the network of teams across the globe controlled by City’s owners. Guardiola will be able to give technical advice to clubs such as Palermo, Lommel, and Troyes and will be “working on specific projects and collaborations” with the group. The legendary coach has previously spoken of wanting to experience international management and there are major tournaments coming up in England in 2028 and Spain in 2030 that could appeal, but his first job after leaving City will be to remain with CFG.

“We have been privileged to work alongside Pep Guardiola for ten years. We have witnessed his greatness and dedication, but also enjoyed his companionship, his friendship and humanity,” said CEO Ferran Soriano. “What a privilege it has been for so many of us at Manchester City.”

Read more here>>>

Karen Henthorn, who played Julie Bates on the BBC soap, first appeared in Walford nearly 30 years ago, returned to Albert Square last year as part of a storyline exploring dementia.

She made her original debut between September 1997 and April 1998.

Julie’s exit aired in the Thursday episode, with her character deciding to leave for a new life in India just weeks after the death of her husband, Nigel.

After reading a letter from Nigel, Julie discovered he had left her his pension, allowing her to fulfil her dream of travelling abroad.

Ms Henthorn marked her departure with a farewell video shared on EastEnders’ official social media accounts.

Karen Henthorn said: “It’s my last day and I’ve had the best time – the best 10 and a half months.

“Whatever you do in life, it’s always about people and kindness.

“Thanks for your love, your support and your commitment and dedication to the programme, which you love as much as I love.

“And I’m going to really miss you.

“So thanks everyone, take care of each other, loads and loads of love.”

The video included part of her final scene, followed by a behind-the-scenes moment where she was given flowers and applauded by crew and cast, including Steve McFadden.

Executive Producer Ben Wadey also paid tribute.

Mr Wadey said: “Your constant waterworks, your endless tears, but your performance has really been amazing.

“Thank you for everything, you’ve been amazing.”

EastEnders captioned the Facebook farewell: “Tonight we say goodbye to the outstanding Karen Henthorn and Julie Bates.

“You’ve been an absolute delight and we will miss you dearly!”

Fans also shared messages of support under the video.

One viewer wrote: “Great actress and amazing portrayal of such an awful disease.

“I hoped you might end up with Phil, it’s the most he’s smiled since you arrived.”

Another said: “I’m heartbroken, she was my favourite character.”

Who is your favourite EastEnders character? Let us know in the comments

Reformed fraudster Alex Wood was a musical prodigy, but a wrist injury ended his violin-playing career and he turned to crime – now he shares his phone fraud warning signs to help you avoid being scammed

As a gifted musical talent, violinist Alex Wood travelled the globe, performing at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle alongside prestigious international concert venues. However, it was an entirely different type of fiddle that would come to define Alex’s life as an adult.

Alex’s musical journey ground to an unexpected halt at the age of 24. “I developed a bit of strain injury in my early twenties in my right wrist, ” he told us, “and it led to a very sudden sort of stop in my career.”

From his mid-twenties, he transformed into a prolific fraudster, occasionally pocketing as much as a million pounds through a single 40-minute telephone scam. “I certainly had a capacity for committing fraud, and I was very good at it,” he said. “I committed every sort of fraud you could possibly imagine for about 25 years.”

Today, following an extensive criminal history that resulted in three prison sentences, Alex has turned from poacher to gamekeeper, educating the public on protecting themselves from fraudsters. He is part of the BBC’s Scam Secrets team and has written a new book, Facing the Music: From Her Majesty’s Palaces to Her Majesty’s Prisons, which reveals the profitable realm of fraud.

He offers several straightforward tips for anyone receiving a call from someone purporting to represent a bank or other financial organisation.

How the scam worked

Alex’s most ambitious and – ultimately – final criminal venture resulted in a seven-year prison sentence. While Alex has since left his unlawful activities behind, similar scams continue to be perpetrated on a smaller scale virtually daily, with innumerable calls targeting ordinary consumers.

Describing how the operation functioned, Alex revealed: “The last case was a multi-million pound, cyber-authorised push payment fraud, which involved me phoning up companies pretending to be the bank and getting them to transfer tens of thousands of pounds.”

Alongside an accomplice he’d encountered while incarcerated, Alex successfully swindled 12 businesses throughout the UK. Losses across three firms totalled nearly £1.8 million, with a single company losing close to £1.3 million.

For Alex, the process was as straightforward as placing a telephone call. He said: “We were targeting medium-sized businesses, and I knew that in the UK, a medium-sized business either banks with Barclays or NatWest – they have about 85% of the market.

“So I phone up as Barclays and if somebody said ‘No idea what you’re talking about, mate, we don’t bank with Barclays.’ I’d just remember that number and phone back the week later and say I’m from NatWest.”

Alex deployed a persuasive approach that convinced victims to authorise what they believed were “test” transactions, while actually transferring substantial sums to accounts controlled by his accomplice.

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How to avoid becoming the next victim

Alex highlights that fraud represents roughly 45% of all reported crime, yet receives merely one to two per cent of police funding. Numerous cases go unreported entirely for various reasons, he notes.

Consequently, Alex advises: “You can’t never trust anyone ever. Apply zero-trust principles to any unexpected request for a payment – even if it’s your kids phoning you up and saying, ‘Hi Dad, I need your help.’

“If it’s at work and you’re expecting to pay an invoice at the end of the month and they’re rushing you to pay it early or whatever, anything like that has a smell about it.”

Remain vigilant whenever you receive an unanticipated payment request, or sense someone attempting to rush you. Alex added: “Fraudsters would always try to rush their victims into making a mistake.”

Alex’s principal recommendation is that when somebody attempts to pressure you into transferring money rapidly, “that’s when it’s important to step back, take five, and just check”.

Should the bank contact you, they won’t object if you disconnect and ring back using a different number. They want you to remain secure, so there’s no need to fret about ending the call and causing offence.

He added: “If you think something’s up, then you can flag it with Report Fraud, which recently replaced Action Fraud as the National Reporting Service.”

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A life of crime

Alex had already dabbled in criminal behaviour prior to his injury, while still attending the prestigious Purcell School for Young Musicians: “I was 16 and I got a summer job in Burton’s menswear. And I used to steal the gift vouchers because there were these old books of gift vouchers back in the days before vouchers were digitally recorded on the till system.”

These gift vouchers, he elaborates, were printed in books potentially worth around £5,000 in total. The teenage Alex would simply spend a small portion of each voucher’s value in high street retailers such as Top Shop or Top Man, pocketing the remaining change in cash.

However, following the loss of his musical career, Alex’s crimes “sort of graduated in seriousness,” he reveals. When he was implicated in a fraudulent share scheme, he was subsequently arrested and imprisoned. Yet his initial spell behind bars became, in essence, a masterclass in criminality, he admits.

During the opening week or so, prison proved “terrifying,” though inmates are swiftly divided into categories. He went on: “The officers very quickly vet you, and if you’re in for a low-level white-collar offence, you know, where you’re not interested in gang culture, you’re not smoking drugs all day, you’re not trying to attack prison officers, you’re seen as low risk and you’re literally shipped out to the countryside, and so I ended up in Hollesley Bay, which is an open prison.”

There, Alex explains that he learned from more seasoned offenders how to execute increasingly sophisticated frauds. He continued: “When in prison, I met people who were much better at crime than me … I formed a much deeper and darker conspiracy in prison.”

Following his release, Alex carried out some of his most notorious offences. Masquerading as the 13th Duke of Marlborough, he reserved rooms at prestigious London hotels, directing staff to forward the frequently substantial bills to Blenheim Palace. During one visit to Claridge’s in Mayfair, he ran up costs of nearly £1,800 across just three days.

Even after being arrested in relation to a fraudulent reservation at London’s Great Northern Hotel, Alex couldn’t resist the lure of living the extravagant lifestyle of an aristocrat and accumulated additional bills approaching £8,000 at hotels in Mayfair, Canary Wharf and South Kensington while on bail.

He received a second prison sentence in 2015. However, his most significant crime – the push payment fraud – was still to come.

Alex Wood is appearing at The Hunter and the Hunted event at Cheltenham Science Festival on Tuesday June 2. www.cheltenhamfestivals.org

The health body say one popular activity often enjoyed on a sunny day poses a serious risk during the upcoming heatwave

Public Health Wales has issued a warning to the public ahead of a heatwave set to hit Wales over the bank holiday weekend. Forecasters at the Met Office say “exceptional” temperatures are expected in the coming days, with highs above 30C possible.

It’s likely the May and spring UK temperature records will be broken during the “notable heatwave”. Many parts of Wales will be hotter than popular European holiday destinations in the coming days, including Mykonos, Ibiza and Marbella. You can see where the heatwave will hit in Wales on our forecast here.

Public Health Wales (PHW) has issued a warning ahead of the heatwave and said it is particularly concerned about the danger posed by one activity many people enjoy during warm spells.

There are fears that people could get into danger in water due to temperatures being well above average as while air temperatures may be very warm, the water is likely to remain cold due to the time of year. This poses a significant risk of cold water shock. Always keep on top of the latest Welsh news with our newsletter

According to the Met Office, cold water shock is a sudden and involuntary response that occurs when the body is unexpectedly immersed in water below 15C. It’s a physiological response that can affect anyone, regardless of age, fitness, or swimming ability, the weather agency say.

PHW is therefore encouraging people to be cautious even though open water may look inviting over the bank holiday and half-term week.

The health body is also reminding people to be careful in the sun – by wearing sunscreen, staying hydrated and taking advantage of spots in the shade.

The advice comes as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued an amber heat health alert for parts of the England as temperatures are expected to soar over the bank holiday weekend.

The alerts, which mean significant impacts are likely across health and care services, cover the East Midlands, West Midlands, the east of England, London and the south east.

They are in place from 2pm on Friday until 5pm on Wednesday. According to the UKHSA website an amber heat health alert means there is likely to be “a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions” and increased demand on all health and social care services.

Wales does not have a formal heat-health alert system equivalent to that used in England, with PHW issuing guidance when necessary instead.

Professor Sarah Jones, Consultant in Environmental Public Health for Public Health Wales, said: “While the current unusually warm and sunny weather in parts of Wales gives many people a much-needed boost to their mental wellbeing, it is important that we all look after each other and enjoy it safely.

“Hot weather is often more difficult for older people and babies, so look after your friends and check in on neighbours and family members to make sure that they are drinking plenty of water.

“When you’re outside, take advantage of the shade, cover up with light, loose clothing, wear sunscreen and take water with you so you can keep hydrated.

“While open water such as lakes, rivers and reservoirs can look inviting, at this time of the year it will be extremely cold. Please don’t be tempted to think that they will be good to cool off in. Cold water shock is very dangerous. If we all look after each other, everyone can have a good long weekend.”

What to do if you fall into cold water:

The Met Office and RNLI recommend the following advice. If you unexpectedly find yourself in cold water, the most important thing is not to panic. Instead, follow these steps:

• Lean back and try to float, keeping your head above water.
• Extend your arms and legs to help you stay afloat.
• Control your breathing, this is key to surviving the initial shock.
• Once you’ve calmed your breathing, call for help or look for something to hold onto.
• If possible, swim to safety only once you’ve recovered from the initial effects.

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Jane Adetoro, 36, Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, were found dead in the waters off Brighton in May, as police investigations remain ongoing

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The bereaved family members of three sisters found dead in the sea off Brighton have disclosed a further devastating detail — the women’s mother also lost her life by drowning several years ago.

Jane Adetoro, 36, along with sisters Christina Walters, 32, and Rebecca Walters, 31, all from Uxbridge in west London, were recovered from the water shortly before dawn on 13 May after emergency services were alerted at around 5.45am.

Relatives described the three women as introverted and extraordinarily close to one another, maintaining that they led quiet lives and steered clear of drinking, smoking and nightlife. Family members also hit out at the wave of online conspiracy theories that have spread in the wake of the tragedy.

Those close to the sisters said they had no idea the women had made their way to Brighton in the early hours of that morning. However, they suggested the trio may have travelled to the East Sussex coast in tribute to their mother, who drowned in Birmingham in 2010.

Their aunt, Ajike Adetoro, said the deaths came without warning, explaining that Jane, Christina and Rebecca had appeared “totally happy” beforehand and that what happened was “totally unexpected”, reports the Times, reports the Daily Star.

Officers investigating the case have said they are yet to establish how the sisters entered the water. Detectives confirmed there is currently no evidence pointing to criminal involvement or the presence of any other person connected to the incident. Public interest intensified after the family first released an AI-generated image depicting the three women together. A subsequent photograph, captured during the sisters’ teenage years, was later made public.

In an emotional statement issued on Wednesday, the women’s father, Joseph, spoke openly about the pain of losing all three daughters. He said in a statement: “Today, with a heart full of sorrow and love, I pay tribute to my beloved daughters – Jane, Christina, and Becky – whose lives ended so tragically far too soon.

“No words can truly describe the pain of losing three daughters in the prime of their lives. Jane, Christina, and Becky were more than daughters to me; they were my joy, my strength, and the beautiful light that filled our family with happiness and love.

“Each of you was unique and precious in your own special way. Your smiles brightened dark days, your laughter brought comfort, and your presence made life more meaningful. Though your time on earth was short, the impact you made will remain in our hearts forever.”

Joseph went on to reflect on each daughter individually, saying: “Jane, your strength and loving spirit will never be forgotten. Christina, your kindness and beautiful heart touched so many lives. Becky, your warmth and joyful soul brought happiness wherever you went. You were deeply loved, and you will always be deeply missed.

“The tragedy of losing all three of you has left an emptiness that words cannot heal. There are days when the grief feels unbearable, yet I hold tightly to the memories we shared – the laughter, the conversations, the love, and the bond that death can never take away.”

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the sisters’ deaths continues. Officers have spent several days examining extensive CCTV footage and conducting enquiries with residents and businesses near the seafront in a bid to piece together the women’s final movements.

Chief Superintendent Adam Hays, the Divisional Commander for Brighton and Hove, has urged witnesses or anyone with relevant information to come forward. Detectives are particularly keen to hear from people who may have spotted the sisters near Madeira Drive between 10pm on Tuesday, May 12, and 5.30am the following morning.

Chief Superintendent Hays said: “The thoughts of everyone at Sussex Police are with the family of Jane, Christina and Rebecca following this devastating loss.

“I know this incident has had a profound impact on the local community in Brighton, and across the country and I’d like to reassure the public we will leave no stone unturned in our investigation to understand exactly what led to the tragic events of that Wednesday morning.

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“This investigation will continue in earnest, with Jane, Christina and Rebecca’s family at its centre. I would ask that they are given the privacy to come to terms with this terrible tragedy.”

One potential theory being examined by Coastguard investigators is that one or more of the sisters may have ventured into the water from the beach before getting into difficulty due to Brighton’s steeply shelving seabed.

A Coastguard source told the Daily Mail last week: “The shoreline off Brighton Beach slopes steeply into deep water, many people don’t realise the danger. You don’t have to go far out at all before there’s a big drop-off and you go from knee-high water to chest-high water.

“Swimmers can be pulled out of their depth very quickly from the backwash and with pebbles shifting underfoot it becomes difficult to maintain your balance especially when you’re trying to climb back up the slope with waves crashing against you.

“One theory that the Coastguard are looking at is that at least one of the women went into the sea for a paddle and strayed too far out and were caught out by the sudden drop.”

The Windmill Inn on Blossom Street is set for a brand new look next month, following the closure on Tuesday (May 26).

The work promises a makeover both inside and out, with the 17th Century Grade II-listed  building set to re-open in June in time for a ‘summer of sport.’

City of York Council approved of the renovations in April, after pub owners Greene King submitted its plans in July.

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Works on the building include repainting the outside of the building white, black and green, with copper-coloured letters used for the sign with the pub’s name.

The chosen colours match Greene King’s branding.

Existing hanging signs which are aged and no longer meet the company’s standards are set to be replaced with new lit ones featuring a picture of a windmill.

Greene King says the charm and character of the pub will be carefully preserved whilst refurbishment works are underway.

Customers are promised with a range of modern comforts to enhance their drinking and dining experiences. It also has an extensive beer garden.

A statement said: “The pub will remain a popular part of the city’s pub scene with delicious food and drinks menus to suit all occasions, whether customers are stopping by for a quick drink or enjoying a special meal out.

7152 The Windmill York (Image: Dean Atkins)

“Sports fans will also be able to enjoy the pub’s inimitable matchday atmosphere with live Sky Sports and TNT Sports.”

Customers will be able to browse menus and book ahead ready for when the pub is open again using the Greene King app.

A previously reported, the pub was originally in two buildings built as cottages the 17th Century, likely during reconstruction efforts following the siege of York during the English Civil War.

Ownership passed to the Lee family in the 18th Century, who leased a windmill on The Mount, giving the pub its name which was first recorded in 1735.

The building went on to play an important part in the local economy in the 18th and 19th Century following the opening of York’s railway station.

It had its own brewhouse until 1893 and catered to travellers, providing stabling for around 65 horses.

The ghost of a girl run over by a brewer’s cart is also said to haunt the pub.

The other ghost is said to be a man with a ball and chain.

The building was granted listed status in 1968

In the meantime, the Windmill Inn is looking for full and part-time staff in the bar and kitchen. For details and to apply, follow this link.

For bookings, opening times and more information, go to the Windmill Inn’s website.

Here’s what surviving spouses and civil partners need to know about what happens with your pension after death

The State Pension currently delivers a regular income to more than 13 million older people. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) issues these payments to individuals who have reached the UK Government’s qualifying retirement age and have accumulated a minimum of 10 years’ National Insurance contributions.

April saw the beginning of a gradual increase in the State Pension age from 66 to 67, with completion scheduled for March 2028.

Around five million people receiving the new State Pension are now getting payments worth up to £241.30 weekly, and since the contributory benefit is typically paid every four weeks, this totals £965.20 per payment period.

Most claimants overall (8.2 million) are in receipt of Basic State Pension payments worth up to £184.90 weekly, a total of £739.60 per payment period. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here

Which State Pension someone receives depends on when they were born – men born prior to April 6, 1951 and women born prior to April 6, 1953 qualify for the Basic State Pension, while those born after these dates will receive the New State Pension.

But what becomes of State Pension payments following someone’s death?

It’s an uncomfortable subject and not something anyone would willingly contemplate, yet understanding what happens could prove helpful to you or a relative down the line. Below is a brief summary of what you need to know.

State Pension payments following someone’s death

A State Pension claim doesn’t simply stop when someone dies and there are important steps that must be taken. Upon the person’s death, you’re required to notify the Pension Service to stop payments, which can be done by ringing the Pension Service helpline on 0800 731 0469.

You may qualify for additional payments from your late spouse’s or civil partner’s State Pension, though this hinges on their National Insurance contributions and when they reached State Pension age.

If you’ve yet to reach State Pension age yourself, you might also qualify for Bereavement benefits.

Inheritance: Basic State Pension

If a spouse or civil partner reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016, GOV.UK advises contacting the Pension Service following a death to establish what can be claimed.

It’s possible they can boost their Basic State Pension by utilising the deceased’s qualifying years, provided they’re not already receiving the full amount.

Should they have reached State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016, or be below State Pension age when their spouse or civil partner died, the “Your partner’s National Insurance record and your State Pension” tool on the UK Government website allows individuals to verify what inheritance they may be entitled to.

For those who are single, divorced, or have had their civil partnership dissolved, it’s possible that their estate may claim a portion of a Basic State Pension. This applies if that person passes away after reaching State Pension age, and only if the State Pension remained unclaimed. Under these circumstances, the estate is entitled to claim up to three months’ worth of the Basic State Pension.

Additional income from deferring State Pension

Upon reaching State Pension age, individuals can defer their payments if they wish to continue working. Taking this route will actually boost payments when they ultimately decide to claim by approximately £660 annually.

State Pension top-up

According to guidance published on GOV.UK, anyone who has enhanced their State Pension through top-up contributions may enable their spouse or civil partner to inherit some or all of that additional amount.

Inheritance: New State Pension

A person may be entitled to inherit an additional payment on top of their new State Pension following the death of their spouse.

However, nothing can be inherited if an individual remarries or enters a new civil partnership prior to reaching State Pension age.

Inheriting additional State Pension

Where a marriage or civil partnership commenced before 6 April 2016 and one of the following conditions is met, a person may inherit a portion of their deceased partner’s Additional State Pension. These conditions are:

The deceased partner reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016

They died before April 6, 2016 but would have reached State Pension age on or after that date

Inheriting a protected payment

An individual will inherit half of their partner’s protected payment if their marriage or civil partnership with them started before 6 April 2016, and:

• Their State Pension age falls on or after 6 April, 2016
• They died on or after 6 April, 2016
• This payment will be issued alongside the State Pension

Inheriting additional State Pension or a lump sum

An individual may inherit some or all of their partner’s additional State Pension or lump sum if:

• They died while deferring their State Pension or had begun claiming it following deferral
• They reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016
• They were married or in a civil partnership at the time of death.

Check your State Pension to calculate how much money you will receive on the GOV.UK website here.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio is on his latest mission to assuage nervous U.S. allies in Europe about the Trump administration’s intentions with NATO or at least put a friendlier face on whipsawing changes and uncertainty about American troop reductions.

Rubio will attend a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Sweden on Friday — the same day senior Pentagon officials are expected to brief the 32-nation alliance on plans for the U.S. military’s commitment to European defense at the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels.

The meeting of diplomats, which precedes a NATO leaders’ summit in Turkey in July, comes amid great uncertainty over how the war in Iran will play out and whether stalled U.S. efforts to broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict will resume. Resentment also still simmers on the continent over President Donald Trump’s criticism of allies and his interest in taking over Greenland, a territory of NATO ally Denmark.

Rubio has often been called on to offer a calmer, less antagonistic presence from the Trump administration at meetings like these. He has been dispatched on several such missions this year, including the Munich Security Conference in February and, more recently, to Italy, where he met with Italian officials and Pope Leo XIV after Trump criticized the American pontiff for his stances on crime and the Iran war.

Lack of clarity about US troop drawdowns in Europe

On his departure to the meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Rubio declined to discuss any further changes to the American military presence in Europe, including a possible reduction in the number of troops that the U.S. will commit under the NATO Force Model, which is a contingency plan for European defense in the event of serious security concerns.

The Trump administration had decided to cancel the deployment of thousands of U.S. troops to Poland and Germany, but then the president posted on social media Thursday that “the United States will be sending an additional 5,000 Troops to Poland.”

It was not clear whether that meant the brigade that had been stopped from going to Poland would be back on its way, whether additional troops beyond that rotational deployment could be added, or whether there would still be a drawdown of U.S. troops in Europe, but from a different country. The Pentagon referred requests for comment to the White House, which did not immediately respond to messages seeking clarity.

Earlier, Rubio did repeat that Trump and others in the administration, including him, are “very disappointed” in NATO, especially in its response to the Iran war.

“I don’t think anyone is shocked to know that the United States, and the president in particular, is very disappointed at NATO right now,” he told reporters in Miami before boarding his plane.

Rubio reiterates criticism of NATO over the Iran war

Rubio said he was a “strong supporter” of the transatlantic military alliance and called it important. But he reiterated complaints that some NATO allies, notably Spain, had refused to allow access to U.S. bases for the Iran conflict and others had been reluctant, if not resistant, to join a coalition to reopen and protect the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil shipping route that Iran largely has closed.

“I know why NATO is good for Europe, but why is NATO good for America?” Rubio asked rhetorically, answering his own question by referring to bases that allow the U.S. and others to project power globally. “So, when that is the key rationale for why you’re in NATO, and then you have countries like Spain denying us the use of these bases, well, then, why are you in NATO?”

Rubio noted that nearly all NATO allies agree that Iran should not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, but few, if any, stepped up when Trump said he would take action to prevent it.

“He’s not asking them to commit troops. He’s not asking them to send their fighter jets in. But they refuse to do anything, and so I think the president looks at that and says, ‘Hold on a second,’” Rubio said. “I think we were very upset about that. The president has made that very clear.”

NATO officials have downplayed the changes to U.S. troop levels in Europe, saying they have been long planned and do not come as a surprise.

Yet the announcements have blindsided some allies and came despite U.S. promises to coordinate military moves to avoid creating security gaps. Similarly, Trump’s apparent change on Poland came as another surprise.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Wednesday that U.S. allies have known for a year that the Trump administration would be withdrawing some troops from Europe, and it expects “rightly, for Europe and Canada to take a bigger responsibility for the conventional defense of NATO and particularly, of course, the European part of NATO.”

Rutte said the U.S. “will stay involved” but over time could pivot resources elsewhere in the world. U.S. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, commander of both American and NATO forces in Europe, said this week that security in Europe would not be compromised but warned that allies should expect more drawdowns in the coming years.

The Trump administration has warned that Europe would have to look after its own security, including Ukraine’s, in the future.

___

Associated Press writer Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report.

“I think he can be a very valuable addition to Harry Kane. He can be a presence in the box. When we’re pushing for a goal, he can take attention of other strikers. He has a natural presence within the box. He’s a natural finisher. He can help us with said pieces, because he’s very strong in the air. Very good in using his body, and not to forget, he’s a world class penalty taker.“

Crews are in attendance on a residential street in Chadderton, Oldham, this morning.

A fire has broken out on Turf Lane.

Large plumes of smoke have been seen rising from a building on the street.

The road is closed off while emergency services work at the scene.

Further details are yet to be confirmed.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has been approached for further details.

Updates will follow in this blog.